Buddhism Chapter 6, Section 4 Pg 220-227

Key Terms Meditate- to calm or clear the mind Enlightenment- a state of perfect wisdom Nirvana- a state of blissful peace without desire or suffering Monastery- religious community

The Life of Buddha Siddhartha Guatama= Buddha Was shielded from everything unpleasant, eventually saw reality Left home in seek of peace & truth Learned about reincarnation from gurus Tried fasting as an ascetic Finally, meditated by himself under a tree and gained enlightenment Travelled and shared his knowledge

Buddhist Beliefs Buddha accepted the idea of karma, but also thought the soul disappears when enlightened Did not believe in gods or caste system Four Noble Truths: All life involves suffering Suffering is caused by selfish desires The way to end suffering is to overcome selfish desires The way to overcome selfish desires is to follow the eightfold path Eightfold path leads to nirvana

Eightfold Path Belief - understanding of noble truths Purpose - make spiritual growth one’s purpose in life Speech - be aware; don’t lie or be hurtful Conduct - understand and improve behavior; don’t kill, steal, etc Livelihood - earn a living that supports spiritual growth Effort - try to hold only good thoughts in one’s mind Mindfulness - be aware of one’s thoughts; control them Meditation - clear the mind to achieve nirvana